The shooting happened at East Gulf Place near the public beach area in Gulf Shores.

"We received a call there was a large group, and there was some verbal argument and an altercation," Coleman said. "That's when approximately five shots were fired."

Coleman said the reason for the argument and the altercation is not clear.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Coleman said.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said there tends to be more issues on the beach this time of the year compared to any other time.

"We are always really on high alert on spring break, especially the local spring break," Craft said. "I am not sure that I can tell you why, but statistically, we know that we have more problems now than normal."

The mayor said officers are assigned to the beach and were keeping an eye on things Wednesday night.

"All of a sudden the shots break out and everybody scattered," he said. "Our guys... are there when we get crowds like this on a regular basis."

Craft said he and Police Chief Edward Delmore have talked about the shooting and how to handle similar situations in the future.

"What our guys will be doing now is when they see the possibility for a similar occurrence, they are going to call for more presence, and we will send more officers down there," he said.